Registration for BakingTech 2013, the American Society of Baking’s annual conference, is now open. Also known as the Best Week in Baking, the event, which will be held Sunday, March 3 through Tuesday, March 5 in Chicago, IL, is undergoing a few changes for this coming year’s show. Once again, the show takes place at the Marriott Downtown Chicago Magnificent Mile.

For starters, next year’s program is half a day shorter than previous in previous years, as no Wednesday morning session is planned. Attendees spoke and the committee listened. According to Mike Saulsberry, BakingTech 2013 program chairman, two-thirds of those who took a survey following last year’s conference supported doing away with the Wednesday session, and approximately 40% of attendees participated in the survey.

The theme for the conference is Plant the Seed: Knowledge, Opportunity and Growth, and the program will maintain its educational focus, Mr. Saulsberry added.

The event kicks off from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday with the MarketPlace table top exhibits. However, unlike previous year’s events, a reception will not be held on Sunday evening. Again, the committee listened to attendees who suggested that they were more interested in visiting some of Chicago’s fine restaurants that evening. However, a closing reception will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. 

“If we make it easier to go to dinner on Sunday and Monday, by Tuesday night more people may be inclined to eat some of finger foods, and less people will be as anxious to go to dinner,” Mr. Saulsberry said.